This 8 days Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking combined with game viewing to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Queen Elizabeth and Kibale Forest National Parks safari, takes you through the most scenic places in the pearl of Africa, it involves the rolling hills with beautiful manicured tea plantations to the magnificent Rwenzori slopes, dense true African jungle, amazing nature created features, plenty of wild animals, different primates and numerous bird species that will make you appreciate that Uganda is truly “The pearl of Africa”.
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1: Arrival at Kigali international airport – Transfer to any of these places Kigali city or Lake Bunyonyi or Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Upon your arrival at Kigali International Airport you will be welcomed by our company representative and safari driver guide who will transfer you to your reserved hotel in either Kigali city, Lake Bunyonyi or Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The briefings for the 8 days safari will be done right before dinner at the hotel where you will be spending the night. The next early morning we begin your adventure safari you have all been preparing for.
Accommodation
- Des Mille Collines Hotel (Kigali – Rwanda)
- Arcadia Lodge (Lake Bunyonyi)
- Gorilla Mist Camp (Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park)
DAY 2: Depart Either Kigali City Rwanda, Lake Bunyonyi or Bwindi – Gorilla Trekking Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
On this day after breakfast and with bags ready head out for a drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park a home to the famous endangered mountain gorillas. A magnificent verdant swathe across the steep ridges of the Albertine Rift Valley, this ancient rainforest -one of the few in Africa to have flourished throughout the last Ice Age -is home to roughly half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Arrive to check in and have lunch, relax or go for an evening village walk and shopping at the craft market before dinner. At an altitude of up to 2,607 meters (8553ft). Expect some cooler temperatures in the evening. However on this day you might do some activities depending on where you will select to spend the first Night for example if you want to spend your first night in Kigali city Rwanda you will do a morning city tour to the genocide center and monuments, If you choose to spend it at Lake Bunyonyi you will do a morning bird viewing tour and 3 hours canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi and If you choose to spend the first Night at Bwindi Impenetrable national this will be the first day for gorilla trekking and evening community walks.
Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp
DAY 3: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – Morning Gorilla Trekking
After breakfast, head to the information center for a briefing before embarking on the long awaited Gorilla tracking which may last from 3 hours up to 8 hours or more of the day. Looking deep into the expressive brown eyes of these gentle giants is surely the most exciting and poignant wildlife encounter that Africa has to offer. Enjoy the close view of adults feeding, grooming and resting as the youngsters frolic and swing from vines in a delightfully playful display. Return to lodge for a well-deserved hot shower and lunch and later in the evening enjoy simple community walks to the orphanage center and woman groups, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp
DAY 4: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – Morning Gorilla trekking – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha sector
After breakfast, head to the information center for a briefing before embarking for your second day of gorilla trekking looking to these expressive brown eyes giants for second time surely will leave excited and hoping to come back for the third and fourth and many other times. After return to the lodge for a well-deserved hot shower and lunch relax and later drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha sector of the park that is famous for its tree-climbing lions, we will spend a few hours looking for the tree climbing lions and afterwards continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park for your evening check in. Dinner and an overnight
Accommodation: Parkview Safari Lodge
DAY 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park- Morning Game drive – Afternoon Boat cruise – Evening nature walks to explore the crater lakes.
After a morning coffee, head out for a morning game drive to look for wildlife on the Kasenyi track of the park. Common sightings here are; elephant, warthog, waterbuck, kob, leopard, lions, hyena, buffalo and so much more. Visit Katwe fishing village and witness the local salt mining procedures. In season, you will see plenty of flamingos in this part of the park. Have lunch and go for an afternoon boat cruise on the well-known Kazinga Channel where you get to see schools of hippos. The Channel has the highest concentration of hippos in Africa it is also a great place for birders enjoy most as you will see hundreds and hundreds of birds on the shore, you can easily identify over 40 species while on the boat cruise on Kazinga Channel. Hippos and Birds are plenty here and so many Crocodiles, Monitor lizards, Elephant herds, Buffaloes, Antelopes and by chance you might see the water shore killers besides the channel. Relax and later go for the late evening game drive specifically is such for big predators these include Lion, Leopard and spotted hyenas. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight
Accommodation: Parkview Safari Lodge
DAY 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park – Bigodi Sanctuary Evening Nature Walk
Have breakfast and embark on the drive to Kibale Forest National Park the home to the intelligent Chimpanzee. The drive will take approximately 3-4 hours. As you drive along the way you will enjoy the scenery and see Ugandan’s way of life in their traditional homesteads and farms. Have lunch from Fort Portal town and take an evening a visit to Bigodi swamp sanctuary for a nature walk which may gift you with a chance to see over 229 tree species of birds, different tree species, and other small animals within the wet tropical forests of the park. Plus also different primates such as, blue monkeys, baboons and a variety of birds. Return back at the lodge for dinner and an overnight.
Accommodation: Crater Safari Lodge
DAY 7: Kibale Forest National Park – Morning Chimpanzee Trekking – Transfer to Entebbe Town via Kampala City
In the morning you will have breakfast then transfer to Kibale Forest National Park head quarters for briefing before setting off for a forest walk in search for chimpanzees. The forest walk will be guided to provide information not only on chimpanzees and primates but also on small organisms making it interesting. The walk will reward you with other primates like Grey cheeked Mangabeys, Colobus monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, lhoestes, and butterflies. After tracking the chimps go the lodge for refreshments lunch and start the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, the park is nestled between two lakes, George and Edward with the kazinga channel joining the two, its lush Savannah offers prime grazing ground for the African buffaloes, African elephants and various antelopes, the parks hosts over 600 bird species, on a clear day there are chances of viewing the mountains of the moon the Rwenzori and its snow peak. Transfer to Entebbe Town for your dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Best Western Premier Garden Hotel
DAY 8: Entebbe Town – A visit to Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) former Entebbe Zoo for Rhino and Cheetah trekking.
Have your breakfast and then driver to Entebbe Zoo for meet the Rhinos since these one are in where in Uganda’s wilderness apart from in captivity, you will enjoy getting closer on their footsteps to have a great moment for photos. Retire from the trekking, have lunch and then continue to Entebbe international Airport to meet your return flight.
